ESPN Basketball Personalities - Power Ranking

This topic contains 44 replies, has 16 voices, and was last updated by ExumInferno 10 years, 2 months ago.

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Posted on: Sun, 04/03/2016 - 11:13pm #63252
valentine
I’d like to do a Power Rankings of the ESPN NBA basketball personalities. I’ve left out "Play-by-Play" guys and "Anchors" since they’re not really paid to have opinions…So it’s just analysts.

Best of the Best
1. Jeff Van Gundy – Smart and Quick Witted. Calls it how it is, and was great at shutting down Mark Jacksons.
2. Jon Barry – A close second to Van Gundy, and under rated. Not as controversial, but on point.
3. Jay Bilas – The best of the College guys. Is known to hype a little, but never holds back and his views are often in the best interests of the sport. Has good draft knowledge.
4. Fran Fraschilla – Has the best international knowledge, as well as coaching experience.
5. Bob Knight – Oldschool fans can relate to him.
6. Doris Burke – Not quite as good as Craig Sager on the sidelines, but still pretty good analysis in a commentary role. Proves you don’t need to be young and hot to get the job done as a female in showbiz.
Middle of the Pack
1. Tim Legler – Vanilla, but harmless. The kind that mom’s would like and everyone else can tolerate if there’s nothing on ESPN 2.
2. Andy Katz – His reporting is hit and miss, but overall does a pretty good job.
3. Dick Vitale – Dickie V has credits in the bank, but is declining. Was a shoe-in for the top 3 a few years ago. Still good hearing his madness….his enthusiasm is infectious.
4. Jay Williams – Wierd guy…says some really intelligent things, yet also some really dumb things. So in the middle is where he belongs.
5. Michael Wilbon – Recently said he’d take Buddy Hield #1 overall. Possibly looks less annoying since he’s next to the worst ESPN employee of all, Tony Kornheiser.
6. Hubie Brown – He was good, but now he’s too old. He’s getting boring and repetitive. You had a good career Hubie, but it’s time to say one last "there it is" and be gone.
7. Stephan A. Smith: Sounds like a televangelist, but he does have a lot of personality and a good rapport with most players (altho somes despise him).
8. Jamal Mashburn – Doesn’t exactly "pop" on the screen, but doesn’t frustrate me either.
9. Mike Golic – Mostly an NFL guy, but since he has about 5 hours of airtime he gets a mention. His basketball knowledge is pretty limited, so better if he said nothing.
10. Chad Ford: I can’t believe he’s snuck into this category. Makes you pay insider fees for sub-par content. Looks like the Joker without makeup, and retrospectively changes! old mock drafts so he doesn’t look as wrong as he always is!
Worst of the Worst
1. Jalen Rose: Was riding Bill Simmons coat tails, who is now gone. He had a few good stories, but once you’ve heard them all, hes lost his flavour. His player comparisons are dreadful.
2. Chris Broussard: I can’t trust any of this guys stories. The league doesn’t take him seriously…neither do I. Remember his reporting of the DeAndre Jordan saga….or his "I called game!" interview. Get off my screen!
3. Skip Bayless – At this point in his career, he’s pretty much limited to comic relief. I can’t take anything he says seriously, and his opinions are just flat out wrong.
4. Ramona Shelburne: Good lord…..I like pretty much all the ESPN females, like Michelle Beadle, Sage Steele, Lindsay Czarniak etc, but Ramona Shelburne kills me. I’d be more ruthless, yet I don’t need the accusations of sexism.
5. Jeff Goodman: The worst! Congratulations Jeff….he looks like a tool, and then removes all doubt once he opens his mouth. Never gets scoops of any value because no-one takes him seriously. ESPN could hire a million better people than this guy.
What do you guys think? Was I too harsh on anyone?

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Posted on: Sun, 04/03/2016 - 11:20pm #1051712

Robb_C
Participant
When I can I typically turn the Volume Off on the TV and find the game on the Radio and turn that up.. Everyone on ESPNS staff make sports sound like a soap opera
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Posted on: Sun, 04/03/2016 - 11:20pm #1051582

Robb_C
Participant
When I can I typically turn the Volume Off on the TV and find the game on the Radio and turn that up.. Everyone on ESPNS staff make sports sound like a soap opera
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Posted on: Mon, 04/04/2016 - 12:30am #1051718

Jr. ROXAS
Participant
Gus Johnson and Kevin Harlan best of the best.
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Posted on: Mon, 04/04/2016 - 12:30am #1051588

Jr. ROXAS
Participant
Gus Johnson and Kevin Harlan best of the best.
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- Posted on: Mon, 04/04/2016 - 12:33am #1051720
  
  Jr. ROXAS
  Participant
  Woops sorry didn’t see no play by play guys. Well then, Colin Cowherd is for me best of the best.
  
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- Posted on: Mon, 04/04/2016 - 12:33am #1051590
  
  Jr. ROXAS
  Participant
  Woops sorry didn’t see no play by play guys. Well then, Colin Cowherd is for me best of the best.
  
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  - Posted on: Mon, 04/04/2016 - 12:40am #1051722
    
    Hype Machine
    Yeah Cowherds Great.
    So are the sports nation guys. I should have included Marcellus and Cowherd
    
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  - Posted on: Mon, 04/04/2016 - 12:40am #1051592
    
    Hype Machine
    Yeah Cowherds Great.
    So are the sports nation guys. I should have included Marcellus and Cowherd
    
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Posted on: Mon, 04/04/2016 - 1:25am #1051724

Thenilonator
Participant
I’d take legler over Barry and Stephen a smith would be right down the bottom next to his mate skipp
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Posted on: Mon, 04/04/2016 - 1:25am #1051594

Thenilonator
Participant
I’d take legler over Barry and Stephen a smith would be right down the bottom next to his mate skipp
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Posted on: Mon, 04/04/2016 - 3:51am #1051738

Dazzling Dunks and Basketball Bloopers
Participant
Does Bob knight still call games on ESPN? I haven’t heard him do commentary all season.
And how could you possibly leave out bill walton? He deserves his own category.

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Posted on: Mon, 04/04/2016 - 3:51am #1051608

Dazzling Dunks and Basketball Bloopers
Participant
Does Bob knight still call games on ESPN? I haven’t heard him do commentary all season.
And how could you possibly leave out bill walton? He deserves his own category.

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Posted on: Mon, 04/04/2016 - 4:52am #1051764

SeattleSuperChronics
Participant
I miss Bill Walton calling games
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Posted on: Mon, 04/04/2016 - 4:52am #1051634

SeattleSuperChronics
Participant
I miss Bill Walton calling games
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Posted on: Mon, 04/04/2016 - 5:31am #1051653

zcnumerouno
Participant
I hate calling Brian Windhorst a basketball personality, since even that is giving him too much praise, but he deserves to be in the worst of the worst… Just a LeBron fan boy that has never done a serious piece of writing in his life. He just flat out sucks.
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Posted on: Mon, 04/04/2016 - 5:31am #1051784

zcnumerouno
Participant
I hate calling Brian Windhorst a basketball personality, since even that is giving him too much praise, but he deserves to be in the worst of the worst… Just a LeBron fan boy that has never done a serious piece of writing in his life. He just flat out sucks.
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Posted on: Mon, 04/04/2016 - 5:45am #1051657

high floor
Participant
I’d probably place both within the middle of the pack, but they bring some entertaining qualities to the table.
Zach Lowe tries a little too hard to act like a coach/analyst at times.. but overall I think he offers a positive perspective to the game.

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- Posted on: Mon, 04/04/2016 - 6:36am #1051667
  
  sweaterflex
  Participant
  Zach Lowe’s on screen persona might not be as engaging as some others, but he’s a top 3 basketball writer bar none, I don’t know how people are accounting for written analysis though.
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- Posted on: Mon, 04/04/2016 - 6:36am #1051798
  
  sweaterflex
  Participant
  Zach Lowe’s on screen persona might not be as engaging as some others, but he’s a top 3 basketball writer bar none, I don’t know how people are accounting for written analysis though.
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Posted on: Mon, 04/04/2016 - 5:45am #1051788

high floor
Participant
I’d probably place both within the middle of the pack, but they bring some entertaining qualities to the table.
Zach Lowe tries a little too hard to act like a coach/analyst at times.. but overall I think he offers a positive perspective to the game.

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Posted on: Mon, 04/04/2016 - 7:15am #1051681

Toronto16
Participant
Stopped reading when I saw Jon Barry and Doris Burke under “best of the best”
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Posted on: Mon, 04/04/2016 - 7:15am #1051811

Toronto16
Participant
Stopped reading when I saw Jon Barry and Doris Burke under “best of the best”
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Posted on: Mon, 04/04/2016 - 7:17am #1051685

ZachAttack
Participant
Don’t think I’ve seen a thread like this on here yet, but
Good Luck Craig Sager… Hopefully he powers through his cancer. It’s possible.

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Posted on: Mon, 04/04/2016 - 7:17am #1051815

ZachAttack
Participant
Don’t think I’ve seen a thread like this on here yet, but
Good Luck Craig Sager… Hopefully he powers through his cancer. It’s possible.

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Posted on: Mon, 04/04/2016 - 7:58am #1051693

JordanC20
Participant
I personally don’t like Van Gundy or Bobby Knight but to each their own…
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Posted on: Mon, 04/04/2016 - 7:58am #1051823

JordanC20
Participant
I personally don’t like Van Gundy or Bobby Knight but to each their own…
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Posted on: Mon, 04/04/2016 - 8:08am #1051697

Memphis Madness
Participant
Don’t like Doris Burke.
Kara Lawson is decent.
Sir Charles and Kenny Smith are solid.
I miss Bill Walton.
Maybe there should be an app for choosing whoever you want to call any particular game.
I will take Bill Walton and Hubie Brown discussing the ’86 Celtics and Knicks while covering a first round playoff game between the Clippers and Trailblazers.
Hubie Brown is good in spurts. Then he starts rambling about free college and health care and it turns me off … oh wait, that’s Bernie Sanders.

Memphis Madness
Feel The Hubie.

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Posted on: Mon, 04/04/2016 - 8:08am #1051827

Memphis Madness
Participant
Don’t like Doris Burke.
Kara Lawson is decent.
Sir Charles and Kenny Smith are solid.
I miss Bill Walton.
Maybe there should be an app for choosing whoever you want to call any particular game.
I will take Bill Walton and Hubie Brown discussing the ’86 Celtics and Knicks while covering a first round playoff game between the Clippers and Trailblazers.
Hubie Brown is good in spurts. Then he starts rambling about free college and health care and it turns me off … oh wait, that’s Bernie Sanders.

Memphis Madness
Feel The Hubie.

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Posted on: Mon, 04/04/2016 - 8:21am #1051701

ncballer
Dick Vitale deserves to be in the worst tier. The guy is senile. Had his moments back in the day but just look up the video on his final 4 predictions. There is a reason he doesn’t do UNC vs Duke anymore. I am glad that I am not the only one who loathes Goodman. Can’t stand the guy.
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Posted on: Mon, 04/04/2016 - 8:21am #1051831

ncballer
Dick Vitale deserves to be in the worst tier. The guy is senile. Had his moments back in the day but just look up the video on his final 4 predictions. There is a reason he doesn’t do UNC vs Duke anymore. I am glad that I am not the only one who loathes Goodman. Can’t stand the guy.
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Posted on: Mon, 04/04/2016 - 8:21am #1051703

RUDEBOY_
Participant
doesnt it seems as though every blonde on espn is currently pregnant? whats up wit that? whats going on inside their bristol studios? espn president must think he’s hefner.
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Posted on: Mon, 04/04/2016 - 8:21am #1051833

RUDEBOY_
Participant
doesnt it seems as though every blonde on espn is currently pregnant? whats up wit that? whats going on inside their bristol studios? espn president must think he’s hefner.
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Posted on: Mon, 04/04/2016 - 8:22am #1051699

PrecociousNeophyte
Participant
Fran Fraschilla is the best and i don’t think it’s close.
Doris Burke and Brooke Weisbrod are the worst. Have to mute the TV or change the channel when they are on.
Bob Knight retired after the NIT last season.
Don’t understand why people like Jay Bilas. Winey voice, always says "that was a foul". You are right about him hyping players up. He makes it seem like every player is amazing when they are not. Seems like he calls almost every player a great defender when they are not.
Stephan A Smith has to be the worst of everybody on ESPN.
Doug Gottlieb is probably my second favorite analyst after Fraschilla, although he is at CBS
Jon Rothstein is my favorite reporter. No one knows more college basketball then him.
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- Posted on: Mon, 04/04/2016 - 8:40am #1051713
  
  PrecociousNeophyte
  Participant
  Doesn’t do a lot of games but Dino Gaudio is also very good
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- Posted on: Mon, 04/04/2016 - 8:40am #1051843
  
  PrecociousNeophyte
  Participant
  Doesn’t do a lot of games but Dino Gaudio is also very good
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Posted on: Mon, 04/04/2016 - 8:22am #1051829

PrecociousNeophyte
Participant
Fran Fraschilla is the best and i don’t think it’s close.
Doris Burke and Brooke Weisbrod are the worst. Have to mute the TV or change the channel when they are on.
Bob Knight retired after the NIT last season.
Don’t understand why people like Jay Bilas. Winey voice, always says "that was a foul". You are right about him hyping players up. He makes it seem like every player is amazing when they are not. Seems like he calls almost every player a great defender when they are not.
Stephan A Smith has to be the worst of everybody on ESPN.
Doug Gottlieb is probably my second favorite analyst after Fraschilla, although he is at CBS
Jon Rothstein is my favorite reporter. No one knows more college basketball then him.
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Posted on: Mon, 04/04/2016 - 8:23am #1051705

ncballer
I would like to put Dan Dackich in the best category. He says it like it is, and does not hold back. He is also extremely knowledgeable.
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Posted on: Mon, 04/04/2016 - 8:23am #1051835

ncballer
I would like to put Dan Dackich in the best category. He says it like it is, and does not hold back. He is also extremely knowledgeable.
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Posted on: Mon, 04/04/2016 - 8:29am #1051711

RUDEBOY_
Participant
he’s been around for what seems like 4ever…but i love vitale..he’s a great hype man..
wilborn is overrated,never liked him..
stephen a. smith talks too much and sometimes goes 2 far..but i agree with alot he says.
doris burke is smart,knows whats he’s talking about..but im still not use to or ever will be use to a woman doing play by play..let her remain in studio or on sideline..
bobby knight is terrible.

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Posted on: Mon, 04/04/2016 - 8:29am #1051841

RUDEBOY_
Participant
he’s been around for what seems like 4ever…but i love vitale..he’s a great hype man..
wilborn is overrated,never liked him..
stephen a. smith talks too much and sometimes goes 2 far..but i agree with alot he says.
doris burke is smart,knows whats he’s talking about..but im still not use to or ever will be use to a woman doing play by play..let her remain in studio or on sideline..
bobby knight is terrible.

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Posted on: Mon, 04/04/2016 - 10:15am #1051741

Memphis Madness
Participant
I think Josh Pastner will be a great commentator for Fox Sports Hotlanta in about 2 years.
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Posted on: Mon, 04/04/2016 - 10:15am #1051871

Memphis Madness
Participant
I think Josh Pastner will be a great commentator for Fox Sports Hotlanta in about 2 years.
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Posted on: Mon, 04/04/2016 - 1:11pm #1051768

ExumInferno
Participant
Hard to call many ESPN people personalities, few have personality or charisma or anything good.
Dick Vitale is the best.
Rose, Williams, Smith, Bilas, Barry, Goodman, terrible.
Papi on Highly Questionable, that is entertainment.
Antonio Davis, don’t know why he is on TV. Bruce Bowen, at least he wears a funny bow tie.
ESPN is a lot more bad than good.

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Posted on: Mon, 04/04/2016 - 1:11pm #1051899

ExumInferno
Participant
Hard to call many ESPN people personalities, few have personality or charisma or anything good.
Dick Vitale is the best.
Rose, Williams, Smith, Bilas, Barry, Goodman, terrible.
Papi on Highly Questionable, that is entertainment.
Antonio Davis, don’t know why he is on TV. Bruce Bowen, at least he wears a funny bow tie.
ESPN is a lot more bad than good.

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